Combined ureteral stone remover and drain



Dec. 29, 1959 F. J. WALLACE COMBINED URETERAL STONE REMOVER AND DRAINFiled April 19, 1957 United States Patent CONIBINED URETERAL STONEREMOVER AND DRAIN Frederick J. Wallace, New York, N.Y., assignor toAmerican Cystoscope Makers, Inc., New York, N.Y., a cor- -poration ofNew York Application April 19, 1957, Serial No. 653,956

3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-328) This invention relates to a surgical instrumentand more particularly to a ureteral stone remover of the type whichincludes a wire basket for entrapping and removing the stone.

Instruments for use in the removal of ureteral stones have been knownand used for many years. While such instruments have been used withconsiderable success there are, nevertheless, occasions when diilcultiesare encountered in the removal of the stone which result in prolongationof the operation for a considerable length of time. For example, afterthe stone has been trapped in the wire basket of the stone remover andthe process of withdrawing the stone remover from the ureter has beenstarted, the stone may become impacted because of the irregularity ofits shape or as the result of some other condition. When this occurs aprolonged procedure, usually the application of some slight traction, isrequired to bring the instrument and stone down. The problem created bysuch an occurrence may be best appreciated when it is understood thatseveral days may be required before the instrument may be removed fromthe body passage. Hitherto, during the course of such lengthy proceduresdrainage from the affected kidney and ureter was blocked. This not onlycaused discomfort to the patient but also the likelihood of kidneytissue damage increased with the length of time involved and often didoccur.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide animproved stone remover which greatly facilitates the removal of ureteralstones and which provides for continued drainage of iluids from theureter and kidney while it is in place.

Further objects as well as advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description as Well as the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a ureteral stone remover constructedin accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View thereof on an enlargedscale.

Referring now to the drawing in detail ureteral stone remover comprisesa rod-like, elongated flexible tubular member 11 having a bore 12extending from end to end thereof. At its proximal end tubular member 11lmay be provided with a longitudinally movable handle 13 which leavesthe proximal end of bore 12 unobstructed and which may be locked inplace by means of clamp 14. A collar 15 mounted about the distal end oftubular member 11 serves to anchor one end of a plurality of spacedwires 16 thereto. Wires 16, of which there may be four, form the stonebasket and are spaced more or less regularly about the axis of tubularmember 11. The distal ends of Wires 16 are joined by means of a suitableconnector to the proximal end of a ilexible tapered member 17 forming aliliform tip which is the distal portion of stone remover 10. Filiformtip 17 is formed with a bore at its proximal end to receive a portion offemale connector 18 having a reduced diameter at one end. The

2 opposite -end'of connector 18 is internally threaded to receive thecomplementarily threaded portion I'of 'male connector 19. The distalends of wires v16 are soldered orctherwise suitably connected toconnector 19.

As shown, the bore or passageway 12 in tubular member 11 is free ofobstructions and provides a free path whereby fluids may drain from thearea of the basket lformed by Wires 16. Preferably, tubular member 11 ismetallic being generally in the form of a tightly wound helix.

Manipulation and use of stone remover 10 is in accordance with Wellknown procedures. Wires 16 are formed of stainless, resilient steelpermanently set so that after the opposite ends thereof are joined tocollar 15 and connector 19 they each normally remain curved as shown.When the basket is expanded or contracted as when collar 15 andconnector 19 are moved forward or away from one another the wirespresent smoothly curved surfaces free of angles. With the wires spreadthe instrument is manipulated until the stone is Within the basket.Withdrawal of the instrument places wires 16 under tension which servesto draw them toward one another to close the basket and thereby securethe stone therein.

With the present instrument, should an obstruction or some other causeprevent removal of the stone thereby making it necessary to leave theinstrument and stone in place Within the body, passageway 12 affords thedrainage required, thereby minimizing the possibility of tissue damageand discomfort to the patient. The present instrument has beensuccessfully used in the removal of ureteral stone and has vbeensuccessfully used to provide the required drainage for about three days.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. A combined ureteral stone remover and drain, comprising an elongatedflexible rod-like member having an open ended bore formed longitudinallytherethrough, a plurality of wire members arranged in annular array andjoined at one end thereof to the exterior peripheral portion of thedistal end of said rod-like member with the base thereof unobstructed,and a flexible tapered member joined t0 the opposite end of said wiremembers, whereby said bore provides a drainage path for tluid when saidrod-like member is positioned within the ureter of a patient.

2. A combined ureteral stone remover and drain, comprising an elongatedexible rod-like member having an open ended bore formed longitudinallytherethrough, a plurality of arcuate resilient wire members, a collarsecuring one end of each of said wires to the exterior peripheralportion of the distal end of said rod-like member with the base thereofunobstructed, a connector secured to the opposite end of each of saidwires, said wires being arranged in annular array and forming a basket,and a flliformtip removably connected to said connector, whereby saidbore forms an open ended drainage path for fluid when said rod-likemember is positioned within the ureter of a patient.

3. A combined ureteral stone remover and drain, comprising an elongatedflexible rod-like member having an open ended bore formed longitudinallytherethrough, a plurality of arcuate resilient wire members, a collarsecuring one end of each of said Wires on the external peripheralportion of the distal end of said rod-like member leaving said base freeand unobstructed, a connector Patented Dec. y29, 1959.

S3 secured to the opposite end of each of said wires, said wires beingarranged in annular array and forming a basket, a handle mounted on saidrod-like member and movable longitudinally therealong leaving theproximal end of said bore open, a clamp for anchoring said handle in aselected position along said rod-like member, and a liform tip removablyconnected to said connector, whereby said bore forms an open endeddrainage path for fluid when said rod-like member is positioned Withinthe ureter of a patient.

References Cited in the le of this patent York, N.Y., 1938, page 5, No.344. sion 55.)

(Copy in Divi-

